Investigating Gender Pay and Diversity at Boots Plc: A Report

This report investigates the challenges related to gender pay gaps and the maintenance of equality and diversity within Boots Plc, a major health and beauty retailer in the UK. The study begins with an introduction to equality and diversity, emphasizing its importance for business success. The report outlines a project management plan, including cost, scope, time, quality, communication, risk, and resource management. A work breakdown structure (WBS) and Gantt chart are also provided. The research employs both primary and secondary data collection methods, including a literature review that examines existing research on gender pay gaps and diversity in the workplace. The research methodology is described, detailing the research philosophy (interpretivism), approach (inductive), and design (descriptive). Data collection methods, including sampling of 30 employees, are discussed. The report aims to analyze the thought of gender pay, the importance of equality and diversity, evaluate the negative effects of the gender pay gap, examine specific issues faced by Boots Plc, and recommend solutions to overcome challenges. Findings and recommendations are provided based on the research conducted.

MANAGING A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
PROJECT

INTRODUCTION
Equality and diversity is the broad term which aid in the success of every company. Such
that it is also define as the promoting equal opportunities within the workplace. The current
report is also assist to perceptive equality and diversity at workplace. The selected firm for this
study is Boots Plc which is the health and beauty retailer and pharmacy chain in UK. Study
describe project management plan in which it include all the key element that assist to complete
the entire task in finer mode. Further, using primary and secondary research methods, researcher
also conduct the investigation in amended mode and aid to achieve the specify purpose and
objectives. Also, investigation provide findings under data analysis section and then provide
recommendation on the basis of findings.
Aim: “To investigate the issues faced by the company due to high gender pay with regards to
maintenance of equality and diversity- A study on Boots plc”
Objectives:
 To analyse the thought of gender pay
 To analyse the importance of maintaining equality and diversity at workplaces
 To evaluate the negative effect of gender pay gap at Boots Plc.
 To examine different issues faced by Boots Plc in state to keep equality and diversity
 To recommend the best way through which company may overcome challenges.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
It is the pattern of initiating, preparation, executing, dominant and concluding the work so
that it will achieve the define aim and objectives in better manner (Foster, 2019). Through this,
project manager also conduct the entire investigation in amended mode and absolute the definite
aim and objectives as well.
Cost: One of the most effective component of the research management plan which
describe the budget that researcher require in order to absolute the task in better mode. For this
study, investigator need £260 which includes transportation cost, internet cost, raw material
etc.
Scope: For the current study, the scope of the project is such that, companies will
determine the importance of having equality and diversity at workplace. Also, it will assist
researcher to find out best ways through which the value of equality and diversity at workplace is

identified. Another scope of the research is such that it assist to generate alternative ways of
maintain diversity at workplace.
Time: Another important element and it is the work breakdown structure which shows all
the activities which researcher perform during the entire project. For the current project,
researcher require at least 168 days to accomplished the task in better style. Further, the schedule
of the project is describe under gantt chart and work breakdown structure (Klein, 2016).
Quality: This key component also ensure that quality of products which are used by
researcher should be perfect and accurate. Such that for this current study, researcher require
skill labour workforce and advance technologies that make sure that research is conducted in
better manner.
Communication: Another component which maintain transparency within the
stakeholders. Such that for the current study, researcher maintain or build communication plan so
that all the information must be passed to all members so that it will assist to meet the defined
aim and objectives in better manner. It is so because there are many stakeholders and that it is
why having an effective communication plan will assist to deliver best outcomes and meet the
deadlines as well
Risk: It is one of the most important element which should be managed, because every
project have risk and it is the duty of project manager to make sure that risk are minimized
(Morden, 2017). Therefore, to overcome risk, project manager also maintain risk register and
communicate every type of risk within a stakeholders so that entire team become aware and
manage work accordingly. This will assist to meet the defined aim and objectives in better
manner.
Resources: It is the key element who support project manager to complete the project on
time. Therefore, for this project, researcher require human resources, technological resource and
financial resources through which investigator may easily achieve the specify purpose and
objectives in better manner. For human resource, make sure that it require skilled labour
workforce who assist to absolute the task in defined deadline. Or else, investigator also use
technological resource for that advance technology is used to meet the defined aim and
objectives.
WORK BREAKDOWN AND GANTT CHART
WBS

Gantt chart

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESEARCH
Literature review
According to Abankina and et.al., (2016) equality and diversity is to promote equal
opportunities within the workplace in order to maintain positive working environment at
workplace. Moreover, most of the company faces issue with regards to gender pay gap and this
in turn affect the overall working productivity of an individuals. Keisu and Ahlström (2020)
stated that gender pay gap is the normal sameness between wage for men and women who are
employed in company. Such that most of the women are less paid and this is because of old
thinking. Moreover, it is also analysed that as per the statistical analyses, 2019 it is also observe
that company are working less as compared to women and this in turn affect creates negative
environment.

On the other side, Levin and Thoresson (2020) examine that equality and diversity must
be followed by company because it will assist to provide same opportunities at workplace. It is
quite essential for the firm to pay equal without discriminating men and women, such that it will
assist to improve the overall productivity of the firm as well as employees. Moreover, through
equality and diversity, company's brand image is also sustained and even employees also respect
to each other. While, Kronberg (2020) evaluated in their study that it also increase exposure at
different kinds of people and this in turn leads to improve its financial performance too. Further,
through diverse workforce, company's employees also share their own ideas and also bring
creativity at their workforce to achieve the purpose and objectives. Moreover, workplace equality
and diversity and at the work is also assist to increase employee production level and this in turn
leads a business at further level of success.
Eden (2020) stated that providing equal opportunities to all the employees will also leads
to generate the best outcomes and increase the employee morale. Further, when morale of
employees will increases then it raise the production level of the organization and as a result, it
leads to improve the financial performance. On the other hand, Grossman (2020) stated that if
company have varied workforce, then it will assist to maintain positive working environment
with fairness, dignity and tolerance. Therefore, it is clearly reflected that when company have
good and effective workforce then it will assist to creates positive impression upon staff and
employees.
Takenoshita (2020) provide their views with regards to equality and diversity that
company faces many issue such that it perception of people is consider one of the biggest issue.
Such that most of the company think that they cannot execute the same activity as men do and
this leads as a challenge within the company. Moreover, it is also analysed that due to many
cultural changes and different perception, also leads to creates negative impact upon employee
mind-set. For instance, during recruitment, most of the manager did not prefer to recruit women
because of their old thinking and wrong perception wit regards to women. That is why, these
challenges affect the general show of the organization in negative manner. On the other side,
Hercegovac, Kernot and Stanley (2020) stated another challenge i.e. barrier which stop women
advancing further in their profession and this in turn creates hindrance. That is why, it is clearly
analysed that wrong perception and negative mindset are consider top challenge for the
company.

Keisu and Ahlström (2020) examine that if company provide effective training session to
their employees and manager then this will assist to minimize the issue. Further, during these
training session, employees must be aware so that it will leads to provide positive working
situation at work. Therefore, these effective strategies also leads to creates affirmative impact
upon the business and also improve the overall performance of a company too.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
It is considered to be one of the effective procedures because it helps in selecting the best
possible information associated with the topic. This helps in properly investigating the reliability
and overall validity of the study.
Research methods: It is a strategic procedure which is very relevant for uncovering new
set of data associated with the topic. This is categorized into quantitative and qualitative research
methods. Quantitative data is an approach which helps in measuring data in numeric terms. This
method helps in emphasizing on objectively measuring data through numerical analysis of the
data (Robson and et.al., 2020). This can be done with the help of questionnaires, polls, pre-
existing statistical data, surveys, etc. Qualitative research approach is based on certain set of
observation which has been gathered through the collection of non- numerical data. The
researcher of the study has opted for qualitative methodology approach with the help of
interviews, open ended surveys, history, focus group, content analysis, observation, etc.
Research philosophy: It is considered to be as a belief and a specific phenomenon
according to which the data must be gathered and predicted. This is categorized into
interpretivism and positivism approach. Interpretivism approach is useful because it tends to
combine human involvement within the specific study. Positivism approach tends to emphasize
on gaining factual knowledge in order to gain insight on key material facts (Brown and Rhoades,
2019). The researcher of the study has opted for interpretivism approach in order to carry out
qualitative analysis.
Research approach: It is a planned structure based on certain assumptions in order to
solve various set of research problem. This is categorized into deductive and inductive approach.
Inductive method starts with the proper reasoning which in turn helps in reaching conclusions.
Deductive approach focuses on exploring the known phenomenon in order to test the valid
circumstance. The researcher of the study has opted for inductive approach in order to solve

specific research problem i.e. high gender pay with regards to maintenance of equality and
diversity
Research design: It is a framework which helps in analysing various variable and
components of the study. This is categorized into exploratory and descriptive design methods.
Exploratory design helps in explaining and exploring on various aspects and patterns of the study
(Briggs and Coleman, 2019). Descriptive approach focuses on effectively observing the
behaviour without influencing the subject matter. The researcher of the study has opted for
descriptive research design through which researcher attain aim i.e. to determine the issue due to
high gender pay with regards to maintenance of equality and diversity at workplace.
Data collection- For doing the research the most important part is the data on which the
whole research is being based. The data can be collected from two different sources that is
primary and secondary data. The primary is a source from which first hand data is being
collected and is used for the first time. Whereas secondary data is already established data which
has already being used for some other purpose (Kumar, 2019). For the current project blend of
both primary and secondary source is being selected as this provide both fresh and beforehand
used data. Thus, this provides a more good set of data and also attain the define aim i.e. to
investigate the issues faced by the company due to high gender pay with regards to maintenance
of equality and diversity
Sampling- This is defined as the selection of some participant form the whole population
for the project to be carried on. This sample is being selected because the large population cannot
be studied and result will not be analysed properly. Thus, for this some sample is selected on
basis of random sampling and study is continued. For current study sample of 30 employees of
Boots plc is selected. Random sampling is being selected because of the fact that under this
method every participant has probability of getting selected (Bresler and Stake, 2017.).
Data analysis- This is the crucial step in completion of the project because the whole
project is based on the data which is being collected. Thus, for this the use of thematic analysis
of data is done. This is majorly because of the fact that this helps the researcher in interpreting
the data in proper manner. This also includes the use of tables charts and graphs and this makes
the research more presentable and attractive for viewer (Ledford and Gast, 2018). Moreover,
using thematic data analysis method researcher also assist to meet the define aim i.e. to

investigate the issues faced by the company due to high gender pay with regards to maintenance
of equality and diversity.
Ethical consideration- This is the most important part of the project because if the
working will not be done keeping in mind the ethical and moral issues then the research
outcomes are much better. The major ethical issue is that the research must get signed the ethical
approval and consent form from the participants. This is because for the research sometimes
personal data of participants is used so it is the duty of researcher to ensure that data is safe and
secure. Another ethical issue is that the data needs to be collected from all valid and authentic
sources only. This is majorly because of the reason that if data will not of good quality and
relevance then the research will be of no use.
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Theme 1: Familiarity with Gender pay gape
Particular Number of respondent % of respondent
Yes 27 90
NO 3 10
Total 30 100
Yes NO
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
90
10
Column I